Interviewers' Experiences with Two Multiple Mini-Interview Scoring Methods Used for Admission to a Master of Physical...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Admissions Processes
• Physical Therapy Training

Background:

• The Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) assesses professionalism and interpersonal skills in candidates.
• Two scoring systems, rank-based (RBS) and criterion-based (CBS), have been used for MMI admissions.
• Understanding interviewer experiences with these scoring systems is crucial for optimizing admissions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore interviewer attitudes, beliefs, and experiences with RBS and CBS for Master of Physical Therapy program admissions.
• To compare interviewer perceptions of fairness and accuracy between RBS and CBS.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive inquiry using semi-structured interviews with 18 MMI interviewers.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interview data.
• Validation through theoretical and investigator triangulation and member checking.

Main Results:

• A major theme of 'scoring systems' with sub-themes CBS and RBS emerged.
• Participants unanimously favored CBS, deeming it fairer and more objective than RBS.
• The majority of participants preferred CBS, believing it offered a more accurate candidate assessment.

Conclusions:

• Criterion-based scoring (CBS) is perceived by interviewers as a superior method for evaluating candidates in physical therapy admissions.
• CBS enhances the perceived fairness and accuracy of the Multiple Mini-Interview process.
• Further adoption of CBS in admissions processes is recommended based on positive interviewer feedback.